The San Francisco 49ers kicked off their 2026 exhibition slate on Thursday night at Levi’s Stadium, taking on former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and the Tennessee Titans. While preseason wins and losses rarely carry long-term weight, Thursday’s contest provided plenty of storylines. It was headlined by head coach Kyle Shanahan’s return to the sideline and promising displays from several young prospects fighting for roster spots. With the majority of San Francisco's frontline starters resting, the exhibition spotlight turned to the team’s unproven talent, setting the stage for a hard fought battle against a visiting Titans squad. Shanahan Back on the Sidelines The biggest story of the night unfolded before kickoff, as Kyle Shanahan took his place on the San Francisco sideline for his first game action since recovering from a July 14 automobile crash. Seeing him call plays and lead the bench brought a welcome sense of normalcy back to Levi’s Stadium as the 2026 campaign officially got underway. It was also a homecoming of sorts for Titans head coach Robert Saleh, who spent several seasons as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator before taking over in Tennessee. Saleh looked right at home back in Santa Clara, exchanging warm pregame handshakes with familiar faces across the field. First-Half Back-and-Forth The 49ers received the opening kickoff and immediately looked to get rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling involved. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, making his game debut after missing his entire 2025 rookie season recovering from ACL surgery, connected with Stribling on the game’s first play for a quick 6 yard gain. However, an early penalty stalled the drive in Tennessee territory, forcing a 37-yard punt from Corliss Waitman that pinned the Titans inside their own 5-yard line. Tennessee responded quickly on their opening possession. Quarterback Cam Ward and running back Tyjae Spears found early rhythm against San Francisco’s rotational defense, orchestrating a crisp drive that resulted in a touchdown to give the Titans an early 7-0 lead. After trading punts, the 49ers offense got on the board in the second quarter. Capable running back Patrick Taylor Jr. capped off a steady drive by powering up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown, knotting the score at 7-7 with 8:38 remaining in the first half. Tennessee answered late in the quarter with a field goal to regain a 10-7 advantage at the 1:21 mark. San Francisco attempted a rapid two-minute drill before halftime, highlighted by backup quarterback Adrian Martinez launching an absolute dot downfield to wideout Trenton Irwin on 3rd-and-long. The drive set up a bold 61-yard field goal attempt by kicker Eddy Pineiro with 13 seconds remaining. While the long attempt fell short, the aggressive call showed confidence in testing out his range. Tennessee tacked on a late field goal as time expired to take a 13-7 lead into the locker room. Second-Half Adjustments and Standouts The 49ers cut into the deficit midway through the third quarter when Pineiro bounced a field goal off the bank and through the uprights, narrowing the score to 13-10 with 6:00 left in the frame. Tennessee later extended its cushion to 16-10 with a Joey Slye field goal at the 2:47 mark of the third. During the broadcast, former 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw made a sideline appearance for a featured interview, reflecting on his impactful tenure in Santa Clara and his relentless playing style. Key Takeaways and Bright Spots While first preseason games are inherently sloppy, and this matchup saw its fair share of routine penalties and execution miscues from both sides, San Francisco’s coaching staff walked away with several encouraging takeaways:
De'Zhaun Stribling's Immediate Impact: The rookie wideout proved to be a clear bright spot, displaying strong hands, crisp route-running, and the ability to win early in his reps. Raheem Morris' Defensive Schemes: Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris showcased creative front looks and hybrid coverages, giving young defenders like Renardo Green, Jaden Dugger, and Larry Worth III valuable learning reps. Quarterback Progress: Kurtis Rourke looked poised in the pocket during his first full contact game reps, showing good arm strength and command of the huddle after a year on the sideline. Quarterback Adrian Martinez also saw plenty of successful playing time.
As expected for a preseason opener, the coaching staff focused less on the scoreboard and more on evaluating depth, setting a solid foundation as training camp continues into Week 2.